Steam-superheater.



T. T. PARKER.

STEAM SUPERHEATER. APPUCATION FILED APR. 2a. 1918.

' Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

THOMAS T. PARKER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STEAM-SUPERHEATER.

Specification of- Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5-, 1918.

Application filed April 23, 1918. Serial No. 230,281.

To all whom z'zfimag concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS T. PARKER, a citizen of the United States,and resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the countyof Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steam-Superheaters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that class of steam superheaters whereincurved or bent superheater tubes are employed; having reference moreespecially to a core structure whereby the inner capacity of the saidtubes is reduced while maintaining the area of their inner surfaces.

Heretofore such core structures have been applicable solely tubes or tothe straight legs only of curved superheater tubes; for the reason thatsuch structures comprised rigid inflexible sections incapable ofconforming to the curved or bent portions of the tubes, Which portions,in many types of superheaters, are exposed to the furnace heat ofhighest temperature.

The object of my invention is to provide for superheater tubes aflexible core structure of simple and eflicient construction which canbe readily applied to and throughout the entire length of'the tubesincluding the curved or bent portions thereof.

y invention, generally stated, comprises a flexible supporting element,preferably a wire cable, a succession of separable core sections strunglongitudinally thereon, and separable spacing members interposed betweenadjacent sections and adapted to contact with the walls of the tube andthus main tain the said supporting element and its core sectionscentrally of the tube.

he invention also comprises means whereby the flexible core structure isremovably attached to the superheater tube.

The invention also-comprises novel features of construction andcombinations of elements which will be hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a steamsuperheater tube and its headers, showing my improved core structurepartly in section and partly in elevation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of one end of a superheater tube, theadjacent portion of the flexible core, and its end connections with thetube.

to straight superheater indicated at 19. A series Fig. 3 is an endelevation of said tube and core connections.

Fig. 4: is a transverse section of the structure, as on the line 1-4 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the core sections for entry inthe curved or bent portion of the tube. a

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form ofattachment for the core structure.

In the drawings I have illustrated my invention as applied to asuperheater tube, 10,

of U-form, although it is to be understood that the invention is equallyapplicable to other types of superheater tubes. The ends of the tube areconnected as usual with headers 11 having suitably-disposed hand holeswhereby access can be had to the respective tube ends for the purpose ofapplying the flexible core structure to or withdrawing it from the tube.In the present instance two counterpart core structures are employed;the same extending through the length of the respective legs of the tubeand meeting within the curved end portion of the latter.

Each of these core structures comprises a flexible supporting element,preferably an ordinary wire cable 12, extending longitudinally of thetube; a succession of centrallyperforated core sections 13, 14 strung onthe cable, and centrally-perforated spacing disks 15 also strung thereonbetween adjacent sections; said disks having peripheral projections 16.(similarly to a spider) which are adapted to contact with the inner wallof the tube and thus maintain the'cable centrally of the latter, therebysupporting the core sections in spaced relation to the inner wall 0f thetube. The steam flowing through the annular space thus provided withinthe tube absorbs the maximum heat from the wall of the tube and attainsa high degree of superheat, and at the same time such steam by itsintimate contact with the tube wall serves to protect the latter fromthe destructive action of the furnace heat. 1

The sections 13 are preferably cylindrical tubes closed at their ends byheads 17, and the sections 14 are shorter tubes having contracted or.reduced end portions 18 which permit the flexure of the series ofshorter tubes. A spacing disk 15 is secured to one end of the cable,preferably by spot welding the extremity of the latter to said disk, asof short sections '14:

alternating with disks on the cable and moved a series of the longer 15are then strung toward the end disk; sections 13, with alternatingspacing disks 15, are then strung on the cable and moved toward theshorter sections until a close assemblage of the units is effected. Inthe present instance two long sections 13 and three short sections llare employed; but of course the number of each may be varied to meetspecific requirements.

Preferably a separate spacing disk 15 is applied to the end of the cableadjacent the outer large section 13, and a bushing 20 is interposedbetween said disk and a bridge member 21 through which the end of thecable extends; the strands of such cable end being spot welded, orotherwise amalgamated, and screw threaded, as at 2:2,tor the receptionof a nut 28.

The member 21 is preferably made in two parts having beveled end flanges2% which can be readily slid into interlocking engagement with theflared end of the superheater tube. said parts being held together bystuds 25 projecting from a retaining washer '26 into suitably-disposedperforations in the respective parts of the member. hen the flexiblecore structure is inserted into the superheater tube, the parts of themember 21 are manually positioned upon the flanged end of the tube; thestuds on the washer are then entered into the perforations of suchparts. and the nut is finally screwed up, thereby locking the structureto the end of the superheater tube and at the same time retracting thecable so as'to take up the spaces between the articulated core units andsecure them in close relation to each other within the tube. To removethe core structure the nut is released and the above described operationis reversed.

When the flexible core structure is applied to the superheater tube asabove described, the succession of short sections ll readily conform tothe bend or curvature of the tube, such sections. together with thesections 13 in the straight portion of the tube being maintained inspaced relation to the tube wall by the centralizing action of thespacing disks as previously mentioned. 1

It desired a single core structure for the entire length of thesuperheater tube may be employed. in which case a single central cableof double length will be used. said cable being equipped throughout itslength with short core sections or with suitably-disposed short and longsections, as desired. and the extremities of such cable being secured tothe respective ends of the superheater tube.

When a single core structure is employed I prefer to use at each end ofthe superheater tube the modified form of end attachment shown in Fig.6. wherein the bridge member 21 is composed of a single piece and theretaining washer is omitted. By manipulating the nuts at the respectiveends of the cable the latter is drawn taut and the structure is thussecurely held within and longitudinally of the tube.

It is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the specificdetails of construction herein disclosed as the same may be modifiedwithin the principle of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim 1. In a core structure for superheater tubes. a flexiblesupporting element, a series of cylindrical core sections centrallystrung thereon. said sections being of less diameter than the interiorot the tube, and spacing members strung on said element between adjacentsections. said members having peripheral portions adapted to bearagainst the inner wall of the tube and at intervals maintain theflexible supporting element centrally of the tube.

2. In combination with a superheater tube having a curved portion, aflexible core structure within said tube, and its curved portion. saidstructure comprising a flexible supporting element extendinglongitudinally of the tube. a series of cylindrical core sectionscentrally strung on said element, said sections being of less diameterthan the im terior of the tube. and spacing members strung on saidelement between adjacent sections, said members having peripheralportions bearing against the inner wall of the tube and at intervalsmaintaining the flexible supporting element centrally of the tube.

3. The combination with a superheater tube having a curved portion, of aflexible core structure within said tube, said structure comprising aflexible supporting element extending longitudinally of the tube, aseries of separable core sections strung on said element. the sectionswithin the curved portion of the tube having contracted ends, andseparable spacing members interposed between adjacent sections.

a. The combination with a superheater tube having a curved portion, of aflexible core structure within said tube, said structure comprising aflexible supporting element extending longitudinally ot the tube, aseries of straight core sections strung on said element, a series ofsections having contracted ends also strung on said element, andseparable spacing members interposed between ad acent sections.

5. The combination with a superheater tube. of a supporting elementtherein extending longitudinally thereof, a series of separable coresections strung on said element, separable spacing members interposedbetween adjacent sections, an additional spacing member adjacent theopen end of the tube, a bridge member on said open end through which oneend of the said supporting element extends, a bushing on said elementinterposed between said bridge member and said additional spacingmember, and a lock device on the extremity of the supporting element.

6. The combination with a superheater tube, of a supporting elementtherein extending longitudinally thereof, a series of separable coresections strung on said element, separable spacing members interposedbetween adjacent sections, an additional spacing member adjacent theopen end of the tube, a two-part bridge member on said open end throughwhich one end of the said supporting element extends, a bushing on saidelement interposed between said bridge member and said additionalspacing member, retaining means for the parts of the bridge member, anda lock device on the extremity of the supporting element.

7. The combination with a superheater tube, of a flexible supportingelement therein extending longitudinally thereof, separable coresections strung on said element, separable spacing members strung onsaid elementin alternation with said sections, said members havingperipheral projections which bear against the inner wall of the tube andmaintain the said element centrally of the tube, and means forlongitudinally adjusting said element and securing an ex trimity thereofat an end of the superheater tu e.

8. In a core structure for superheater tubes, a flexible supportingelement,'a spacing member secured to one end of said element, a seriesof relatively short core sections strung on said element, one of saidsec- 40 tions being in contact with said spacing member, and otherspacing members strung on said element in alternation with saidsections,

-9. In a core structure for superheater tubes, a flexible supportingelement, a spac ing member secured to one end of said element, a seriesof relatively short core sections strung on said element, longer coresections strung on said element, and sepa- 0 rable spacing membersstrung on said element in alternation with the core sections.

10. In a core structure for superheater tubes, a flexible supportingelement, long and short core sections strung on said element, andseparable spacing elements strung on said element between adjacentsections.

Signed at the cityof New York, in the county and State of New York this19th day of April A. D. 1918.

THOMAS T. PARKER.

